Damascus (USA)
April 14, 1964 – August 8, 1995
Sword Dancer (USA) x Kerala (USA), by My Babu (FR)
Family 8-h
April 14, 1964 – August 8, 1995
Sword Dancer (USA) x Kerala (USA), by My Babu (FR)
Family 8-h
One of three top racers and sires produced from the North American foal crop of 1964, Damascus is best remembered as the winner of the “Race of the Century”; this was the 1967 Woodward Stakes, in which he defeated Buckpasser (1966 Horse of the Year) and Dr. Fager (1968 Horse of the Year). A winner in top company at distances ranging from 7 furlongs to 2 miles, Damascus became a successful sire after his retirement, continuing the male line of Teddy.
Race record
32 starts, 21 wins, 7 seconds, 3 third, US$1,176,781
1966:
1967:
1968:
Honors
Assessments
Damascus was rated #16 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1966, 7 pounds below champion Successor.
Highweighted at 136 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1967, 6 pounds above second-rated Dr. Fager.
Rated at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1968, 6 pounds below champion Dr. Fager
As an individual
Damascus stood 16 hands. A plain but athletic bay horse with correct forelegs and feet, Damascus had strong muscling across the hips and loin. He could be faulted for less than ideal ankles and having his hocks out behind him. He was a fluent and efficient mover nonetheless and dead game when asked. He possessed a devastating turn of foot. In personality, he was intelligent, willing and generally even-tempered although he could become high-strung in the paddock prior to a race.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Damascus sired 438 winners (57.0%) and 72 stakes winners (9.4%) from 769 named foals. Despite his own stamina, Damascus threw more of the speed of his maternal grandsire My Babu than expected. His colts tended to inherit his own equable disposition, while his fillies were often strong-willed and feisty. Damascus is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Belted Earl (USA), Confidential Talk (USA), Crusader Sword (USA), Defer (USA), Desert Wine (USA), Eastern Echo (USA), Highland Blade (USA), Judger (USA), Lord Durham (CAN), Ogygian (USA), Private Account (USA), Time for a Change (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Capades (USA), Chilukki (USA), Coronado’s Quest (USA), Cotton Carnival (USA), Desert Stormer (USA), El Sultan (ARG), For Once’n My Life (USA), Ghazi (USA), Kudos (USA), Marlin (USA), Minstrel’s Lassie (USA), Officer’s Ball (USA), Secret Savings (USA), Shadeed (USA), Splendid Spruce (USA), Super Abound (USA)
Connections
Damascus was bred and owned by Edith W. Bancroft, whose husband Thomas Bancroft, Sr., managed Damascus' career due to Mrs. Bancroft's having been afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Damascus was trained by Frank Whiteley, Jr. He stood in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm. Pensioned in March 1989 due to declining fertility, he died of natural causes in 1995 and was buried at Claiborne's Marchmont division.
Pedigree notes
Damascus is inbred 5x4 to Phalaris, Selene and Blue Larkspur. He is a half brother to Aunt Tilt (by Tulyar), second dam of 1992 Prix du Moulin (FR-G1) winner All At Sea and fourth dam of 1998 American champion 3-year-old filly Banshee Breeze and 2010 European champion older horse Twice Over. He is also a half brother to Beaufix (by Weather Bureau), second dam of 1985 Oaks d'Italia (ITY-G1) winner Miss Gris. His dam Kerala is a half sister to four major stakes winners. Damascus' second dam Blade of Time is closely related to his sire's broodmare sire By Jimminy as they are sired by the full brothers Sickle and Pharamond II, respectively, and are both out of Blue Larkspur mares.
Books and media
Last updated: May 29, 2024
Race record
32 starts, 21 wins, 7 seconds, 3 third, US$1,176,781
1966:
- Won Remsen Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
1967:
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA,10FD, Belmont)
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA 10FD, Saratoga; equaled track record 2:01-3/5)
- Won Dwyer Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- Won American Derby (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park; new track record 1:46-4/5)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Aqueduct Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Leonard Richards Stakes (USA, 9FD, Delaware)
- Won Bay Shore Stakes (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Washington D. C. International Stakes (USA, 12FT, Laurel)
- 2nd William DuPont Jr. Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Delaware)
- 2nd Gotham Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
1968:
- Won Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct; new track record 1:59-1/5)
- Won Aqueduct Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won William DuPont Jr. Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Delaware)
- Won San Fernando Stakes (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Malibu Stakes (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Michigan Mile and One-Eighth Handicap (USA, 9FD, Detroit)
- 2nd Charles H. Strub Stakes (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Woodward Stakes (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Amory L. Haskell Handicap (USA, 10FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1974)
- Monmouth Park Hall of Champions
- American Horse of the Year (1967)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1967)
- American co-champion handicap male (1967)
Assessments
Damascus was rated #16 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1966, 7 pounds below champion Successor.
Highweighted at 136 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1967, 6 pounds above second-rated Dr. Fager.
Rated at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1968, 6 pounds below champion Dr. Fager
As an individual
Damascus stood 16 hands. A plain but athletic bay horse with correct forelegs and feet, Damascus had strong muscling across the hips and loin. He could be faulted for less than ideal ankles and having his hocks out behind him. He was a fluent and efficient mover nonetheless and dead game when asked. He possessed a devastating turn of foot. In personality, he was intelligent, willing and generally even-tempered although he could become high-strung in the paddock prior to a race.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Damascus sired 438 winners (57.0%) and 72 stakes winners (9.4%) from 769 named foals. Despite his own stamina, Damascus threw more of the speed of his maternal grandsire My Babu than expected. His colts tended to inherit his own equable disposition, while his fillies were often strong-willed and feisty. Damascus is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1975; 4th in 1974 and 1983; 10th in 1984.
- 3rd on the American broodmare sire list in 1992; 4th in 1994; 5th in 1986.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1975; 3rd in 1983; 4th in 1974; 10th in 1984.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1986, 1992, and 1994; 6th in 1995 and 1996; 8th in 1990, 1991, and 1997; 9th in 1993.
Notable progeny
Belted Earl (USA), Confidential Talk (USA), Crusader Sword (USA), Defer (USA), Desert Wine (USA), Eastern Echo (USA), Highland Blade (USA), Judger (USA), Lord Durham (CAN), Ogygian (USA), Private Account (USA), Time for a Change (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Capades (USA), Chilukki (USA), Coronado’s Quest (USA), Cotton Carnival (USA), Desert Stormer (USA), El Sultan (ARG), For Once’n My Life (USA), Ghazi (USA), Kudos (USA), Marlin (USA), Minstrel’s Lassie (USA), Officer’s Ball (USA), Secret Savings (USA), Shadeed (USA), Splendid Spruce (USA), Super Abound (USA)
Connections
Damascus was bred and owned by Edith W. Bancroft, whose husband Thomas Bancroft, Sr., managed Damascus' career due to Mrs. Bancroft's having been afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Damascus was trained by Frank Whiteley, Jr. He stood in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm. Pensioned in March 1989 due to declining fertility, he died of natural causes in 1995 and was buried at Claiborne's Marchmont division.
Pedigree notes
Damascus is inbred 5x4 to Phalaris, Selene and Blue Larkspur. He is a half brother to Aunt Tilt (by Tulyar), second dam of 1992 Prix du Moulin (FR-G1) winner All At Sea and fourth dam of 1998 American champion 3-year-old filly Banshee Breeze and 2010 European champion older horse Twice Over. He is also a half brother to Beaufix (by Weather Bureau), second dam of 1985 Oaks d'Italia (ITY-G1) winner Miss Gris. His dam Kerala is a half sister to four major stakes winners. Damascus' second dam Blade of Time is closely related to his sire's broodmare sire By Jimminy as they are sired by the full brothers Sickle and Pharamond II, respectively, and are both out of Blue Larkspur mares.
Books and media
- Damascus is the 22nd book in the Thoroughbred Legends series from Eclipse Press. It was written by Lucy Heckman and published in 2004.
- Damascus' rivalry with Dr. Fager was featured as the 12th chapter of Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries (2008, Eclipse Press), a compilation produced by the staff of The Blood-Horse.
- Damascus is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
- Damascus is profiled in Chapter 9 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Damascus is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
- Damascus' victory in the 1967 Woodward Stakes was ranked #39 in Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments, a review of racing in the 20th century compiled by The Blood-Horse and released in 2006.
- As a 3-year-old, Damascus set a North American single-season earnings record of US$817,941.
- Following the Kentucky Derby, Damascus was routinely accompanied to the post by a stable pony named Duffy, who had been bought for US$500 by Frank Whitely in the hopes that a good-natured equine companion would calm Damascus's nerves. After Damascus retired, Duffy eventually wound up at the Vicmead Hunt Club in Delaware, where he served as a "babysitter" to beginning riders and high-strung show horses.
- Damascus's mascot in the barn was a rooster named Pete, who joined Damascus's entourage while the colt was training at Saratoga for the 1967 Travers Stakes.
- The Damascus Stakes is run at Santa Anita as a listed 7-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up on dirt.
Last updated: May 29, 2024